‘Woodshed’ marathon produces an arty crowd in North Adams

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NORTH ADAMS — They glued. They painted. They sewed. And in the end, more than 30 artists created dozens of new works using vintage photos, magazine scraps, fabric, corrugated cardboard, and film, during the course of a four-day art marathon at MCLA Gallery 51.

The artists, some coming from as far away as Boston and New York, were participating in ‘‘100 Hours in the Woodshed IV,’’ a biennial 100-hour collage art marathon started at the gallery in 2007 by artist Daniel ‘‘Danny O’’ O’Conner.

The resulting work will be on display at the gallery, in the aptly titled show, ‘‘100 Hours in the Woodshed IV,’’ through Feb. 24. An opening reception was held at MCLA Gallery 51.

For many of the artists, the marathon is not only a chance to work alongside their peers, but also an opportunity to try out ideas during a constrained time period.

‘‘I’m experimenting with some techniques and procedures and hoping something worthwhile happens,’’ Sean Riley, of North Adams, said as he sewed paper collages together with a vintage sewing machine. ‘‘It’s experimentation with a deadline. You have to push yourself a little. But what’s great about it is there’s less time for contemplation. It’s mostly about action.’’

Maggie Hunt, a Boston artist in the event for her third time, said her past experiences inspired her to learn to sew.

‘‘I definitely could not sew four years ago,’’ she said, while working on two
dress designs. ‘‘When I was here two years ago, I was making quilts. After that, I asked myself why I was making quilts, when I could be making my own clothes. Now I can make my own patterns and my own clothes.’’